Storm Henri transformed into a Category 1 hurricane on Saturday August 21 and is heading towards the northeast of the United States, announced the American Hurricane Center (NHC).
Parts of the northeastern United States, including New York, have been placed on alert as Tropical Storm Henri approaches, likely to become the first hurricane in 30 years to hit the New England coast. Henri is accompanied by the risk of flooding and strong winds which could cause serious damage, the American weather services announced on Friday August 20.
With winds now going up to 120 km / h, Henri must reach the American coasts on Sunday August 22 at Long Island, near New York, or a little further north in New England, according to the American Hurricane Monitoring Center. , who however expects “a weakening before his arrival”.
Potential impacts from Saturday
“Henri is expected to develop into a hurricane tonight or Saturday and be at or near hurricane strength when it makes landfall in Long Island or southern New England on Sunday,” said said in a bulletin Friday at 5 p.m. the National Hurricane Center (NHC). But the weather services warned of potential impacts as early as Saturday.
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“The last hurricane to make landfall in New England was Bob in 1991,” said a spokesperson for the US Ocean and Atmospheric Research Agency. This hurricane killed at least 17 people on the entire East Coast.
Call for caution in several states
Faced with the threat, several governors called on the population to be cautious. In Massachusetts, the state of the city of Boston, Governor Charlie Baker asked “everyone to avoid unnecessary travel”, especially in coastal areas.
In this state, where all the beaches and parks will be closed between Saturday and Monday, the storm could cause power cuts for 100,000 to 300,000 inhabitants, indicate the services of the governor.
The hurricane warning also applies to parts of Long Island, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island, the National Weather Service tweeted Friday, posting warns against the risk of “dangerous waves and currents”.
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Part of the coast located in New York is affected by the warning for this tropical storm. “This is the first time in nearly 10 years that a hurricane watch has been issued for parts of our region,” New York City Weather Services said, noting that the last time it was was Hurricane Irene in late August 2011.
A year later, Hurricane Sandy left an even more painful memory in the American cultural and economic capital, killing 44 people.
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The weather services warn that the violent winds could cause a lot of material damage, in particular on the roofs of houses, on the roads, and cause power and telecommunications cuts throughout the affected area.
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